A Businessman was convicted and fined £1,000 for five breaches of
the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 costs
plus a victim surcharge of £52, totaling £6,052.
The Businessman rented the property from its owner and went on to
sublet it to four individual tenants, without addressing the necessary Fire
Safety improvements required by law for a House
in Multiple Occupation.
Fire Inspectors visited the property following a complaint
concerning the lack of Fire Safety precautions. The inspectors identified
several breaches including:
- Apparent lack of a Fire Risk Assessment for the Building
- Inadequate Fire detection and alarm system – several smoke alarms were found in a kitchen drawer!
- The bedroom doors were inadequate and there were no provisions for self-closing devices.
- No window escape from the First Floor
- No portable Firefighting equipment was provided
- Inadequate testing and maintenance of the Fire alarm system and Emergency lighting.
The
Businessman ignored an Enforcement
Notice, which resulted in legal proceedings.
The Fire and
Rescue Service stated “Landlords should recognise that they have a legal
responsibility to ensure that any facilities they provide for their tenants
have a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment in place and that it is
reviewed regularly… The public should continue to be reassured that legal
action will be used when necessary where serious breaches of Fire Safety
regulations are identified.”
London Fire Risk Assessments advice to
customers: If you are
a Landlord it is your responsibility
to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment for
your Building. If you haven’t got one
- get one or you could be making a very costly mistake.
Tenants – if the Fire Risk Assessment is not on
site ask to see it before you sign
your contract – there should be a Fire
Emergency Plan in London displayed too. It’s your Landlords responsibility to keep
you safe from the effects of Fire. If you are unsure and need some advice call
us now on 01689 890879 we have a
friendly team waiting to help.
